OTTAWA — Revelations coming from the sponsorship inquiry now sitting in Montreal continue to hurt the federal Liberal party's fortunes in Quebec, says Transport Minister Jean Lapierre.

And for that reason, Liberals are in no rush to call another federal election, he adds. "I wouldn't want to go to the polls at this time... right in the middle of this,'' said Lapierre, Quebec lieutenant to Prime Minister Paul Martin.

But as a minority government, it might not be up to the Liberals to decide, Lapierre added in an interview aired Sunday on CTV's Question Period.

"We're not the ones pulling the plug, necessarily.''

A dispute broke out last week in the Commons when all three opposition parties denounced the Liberal government's budget implementation bill, which includes new measures on the environment.

Because it's a money bill, the vote will be considered one of confidence in the government.

Opposition MPs are threatening to bring down the Liberals over the issue.

Lapierre said he hasn't seen any recent public opinion polling of the federal party's support in Quebec, but added it likely hasn't changed much since last June's federal election.

That reduced the Liberals to minority status, partly because of the sponsorship scandal now being probed by Justice John Gomery.

He has been investigating the troubled $250-million federal sponsorship program of the late 1990s.

"So we would probably be in exactly the same spot,'' said Lapierre, who described the public's interest in the Gomery commission as a kind of "soap opera.''

The hearings, which moved from Ottawa to Montreal several weeks ago, have become must-see television for many in Quebec.

Lapierre admitted that because of details coming out of the commission, "it's going to be a rough ride. This is not a very great moment to be in federal politics.

"People are judging us with a lot of cynicism.''

He wouldn't say if that will ultimately cost the Liberals even more seats in populous Quebec.

"Let's wait 'til after this is all done. They'll realize that it's nobody in this government,'' responsible for the former sponsorship program, said Lapierre.

"I had nothing to do with it. The prime minister had nothing to do with that. They'll realize that maybe it was a practice of the past.''

Gomery resumes hearings Tuesday in Montreal when he is expected to rule on applications for a publication ban on some information that could affect criminal proceedings related to the sponsorship program.